Correctionshttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/taxonomy/term/6239/feed
enCorrections Officer graduation caps off a strong yearhttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/corrections-officer-graduation-caps-strong-year
The graduation of 61 new Corrections Officers today caps off a strong year for the Department, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said.
The new recruits were joined by family, friends and colleagues as they received their epaulettes in the final graduation ceremony for 2018, with Mathew Vaoese from Rimutaka Prison receiving the Minister’s Excellence Award.
“As Minister, I get a lot of value from attending these graduations. It’s fantastic that Corrections has so many people stepping up to be positive role models for those who need it most,” Kelvin Davis said.
“If we do everything we can to help break the cycle of re-offending while people are behind the wire – whether it’s through employment programmes or mental health support – then we’re making our communities safer for everyone.
“This has been a strong year for Corrections, with around 580 Corrections Officers and Offender Employment Instructors graduating since January.
“They have also worked hard to ensure existing staff are safe and supported in their roles, reflected in their low unplanned turnover rate, compared to the public service average.
“That’s an impressive achievement for a government department that employs over 9,000 people.
“As 2018 comes to a close, I really want to tautoko all the frontline staff.
“Staff in prisons did an incredible job under challenging circumstances managing prisoners safely despite the prison population peaking at 10,820 people in March this year.
“The work of our High Impact Innovation Programme has now helped to safely reduce the prison population to under 10,000. This is important because it reduces the pressure on staff and prisoners, while still keeping the public safe.
“Community Corrections staff have also worked tirelessly this year. We have been able to support their work through Budget 2018 which provides $82.7 million for probation and community services, including 270 more probation officers by 2022.
“I am excited about what we will be able to achieve in 2019 as we continue our work to provide safe and effective alternatives to prison, while also reducing crime and re-offending.
“Thank you to all the staff who will still be working throughout the holiday period – I wish Corrections staff and their whānau a very safe and Merry Christmas,” Kelvin Davis said.
Thu, 13 Dec 2018 14:29:50 +1300beehive.govt.nz106652Synthetic drug detector dogs ahead of the game in keeping prisons safehttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/synthetic-drug-detector-dogs-ahead-game-keeping-prisons-safe
Corrections’ detector dogs are the first in New Zealand to be trained in sniffing out synthetic cannabis and other new psychoactive substances, playing a crucial role in keeping prisons safe, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says.
Five detector dog teams graduated from a specialised week-long training course earlier this year and are now trained to detect the main ingredients most commonly found in a range of psychoactive substances, including synthetic cannabis.
“We know synthetic drugs are dangerous and pose a significant risk to people’s safety, security and wellbeing both inside and outside prison,” Kelvin Davis said.
“It’s not a widespread problem in prisons, but we need to stay one step ahead in preventing these substances from being introduced and distributed in the first place. This is about being proactive to ensure staff, prisoners and visitors are kept safe.
“The ingredients of synthetic drugs are constantly changing which means training will have to be ongoing, but this is an important step towards mitigating the potential dangers of these harmful substances.
“The next step is to make it easier for Corrections to test prisoners suspected of taking synthetic drugs to ensure people receive appropriate rehabilitation and drug treatment where needed.
“The Corrections Amendment Bill is currently before Parliament, and if passed, will allow prisoners to be tested for a wider range of drugs, including synthetic cannabis, and charged with a disciplinary offence if they return a positive test,” Kelvin Davis said.
A total of 25 drug, cellphone and tobacco detector dog teams operate in New Zealand prisons.
Sat, 22 Sep 2018 12:01:19 +1200beehive.govt.nz105610Corrections’ partnerships place 1500 people into employmenthttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/corrections%E2%80%99-partnerships-place-1500-people-employment
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says Corrections’ partnerships with employers have helped place over 1500 offenders into work as part of an ongoing commitment to ensuring offenders safely transition back into their communities and don’t re-offend.
Speaking at Corrections’ Regional Engagement Forum in Whangarei this morning, Kelvin Davis acknowledged the successful collaboration between Corrections and businesses through the This Way For Work pilot programme.
“For many of these people, this will be the first time they’ve held down a proper job. We shouldn’t underestimate how much of a difference that makes – if someone is able to walk out the prison gates and straight into a job then they’re far less likely to offend again,” Kelvin Davis said.
“That can be life-changing for them and their whānau, and it ultimately means our communities are much safer.
“I know it can be a big ask for employers to give someone with a criminal conviction another chance, but the reality is that we need employers to take that chance if we’re going to successfully reintegrate offenders.
“At the same time, employers are able to access a trained and motivated workforce, know upfront who they’re hiring, and receive ongoing support from Corrections both before and after they employ an offender. It’s win-win really.
“I’m really grateful that so many businesses right across the country have stepped up to support this programme and we must keep building on this success.
“I encourage all business owners, big and small, to jump on board because the more we can do to rehabilitate offenders and help them lead a normal life, the better off, and safer, we’ll all be,” Kelvin Davis said.
Notes to Editors
Further Regional Engagement Forums will also be held in Palmerston North in October and Rotorua and Dunedin in November.
This Way For Work has been running for 21 months and employs 13 specialist offender recruitment consultants across New Zealand to work with employers to help former prisoners and community offenders into sustainable employment.
Corrections currently has over 160 partnerships with employers in a range of industries, including construction, forestry, farming, transport, and electronic and electrical equipment manufacturing.
Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:13:13 +1200beehive.govt.nz105274Speech: Corrections Regional Engagement Forum – Whangareihttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-corrections-regional-engagement-forum-%E2%80%93-whangarei
“We can’t keep judging someone by the worst mistake they’ve ever made - or there would be a hell of a lot more of us inside.”
That’s what Martin Bosley - one of our country’s most acclaimed chefs and restauranteurs – told a room of about a hundred very well-fed guests a few weeks ago.
I was lucky enough to be one of them.
We had just been treated to several courses of gourmet food that you’d be stoked to receive at the swankiest of restaurants in New Zealand.
But this was a fine dining experience with a difference.
We weren’t sitting in a five-star restaurant. We were in the Staff Training College Dining Room at Rimutaka Prison.
The immaculately dressed men with impeccable manners who served us our meals were prisoners.
And the six men who had prepared and cooked this incredible feast – looking a mixture of pride and total discomfort at being put into the spotlight - well, they were prisoners too.
We were at the Rimutaka Prison Gate to Plate event, a hugely popular part of the Wellington on a Plate food festival, where over a period of six years the men of Rimutaka have served up roughly 2,000 dinners to hundreds of people behind the wire.
That night Martin and the other guest chefs spoke about how working with these men over the years had opened their eyes to what prison could be - and should be - about.
They said their experiences working with prisoners in the kitchen – seeing their professionalism, pride and skills on display - totally changed their perception of what’s possible with industry training in our prisons.
It made them realise that they have far more options than they had first thought about who they can employ in their businesses.
They stopped seeing these men as prisoners, futureless and stigmatised – and started seeing them as people, with hopes and dreams, and something meaningful to offer society.
And that’s really what today is about.
It’s about – hopefully – changing perceptions, opening eyes and building relationships.
We will be talking about the work we have underway to rehabilitate and reintegrate offenders, and how you can hopefully be part of that work - because there’s certainly plenty for you to get involved in.
To Corrections’ National Commissioner, Rachel Leota and Acting Regional Commissioner Al Riach, as well as all the Corrections staff, here today – welcome and thank you for organising this fantastic event.
Welcome also to our existing partners and friends from the local and wider community – it’s great to have you with us.
I want to thank you and our Corrections staff for all your hard work in the region.
I know it’s not always easy, but you’re doing a great job to help people change their lives for the better so we can keep our communities safe.
And to everyone here attending a Corrections event for the first time – it’s a real privilege to join you this morning.
For those who don’t know – Corrections’ Northern Region stretches from the Bombay Hills to here in the far North.
It’s probably the busiest in terms of infrastructure and people – all up we have approximately 2,000 staff members; five prisons with a total capacity for over 2,600 prisoners; and 15 Community Corrections sites, managing roughly 10,000 offenders on community-based sentences.
And as we speak, the majority of these offenders will be involved in some kind of treatment, rehabilitation, education, training or employment programme.
We have had some impressive achievements both here and right across the country in this space.
In 2016/17, nearly 2,000 prisoners took part in trades training, over 1,400 received intensive literacy and numeracy support, and almost 4,000 qualifications were achieved by prisoners while in prison.
But you and I both know that it’s not just about some flash-sounding numbers; it’s about what these numbers represent.
Because when we actively support offenders to learn and earn, we’re giving them the best opportunity possible to reintegrate back into their communities, get ahead, and live crime free once they’ve finished their sentence.
I know that the reality is that many offenders have complex needs and that they require significant support to get back and stay on track.
This isn’t the sort of work Corrections can do on its own, which is why a core part of their work involves building strong, trusting relationships with organisations, businesses, community groups and iwi.
We’ve seen some great examples of these partnerships in action.
For instance, earlier this year I attended the NorthTec graduation where seven prisoners had just finished a Level 3 Certificate in Construction Trade Skills Painting.
Meeting the graduates, seeing the pride in their faces and hearing first-hand how much they valued this qualification and what it meant for their futures only reinforced for me how vital this work is.
And Corrections has partnerships with the likes of the Howard League with the two working together to help offenders get driver licences so they can get back on the road and into work.
And then we have a whole heap of great stuff happening through the This Way for Work pilot.
For those who don’t know, this programme involves 13 offender recruitment consultants across the country working with employers to place people with criminal convictions into stable work.
In the 21 months that this has been running, over 1,500 people have been placed into work.
That’s a monthly average of 70 odd people – and for some of these offenders, it’s the first time they have held down a job.
We all know how life-changing that can be.
And of course, for those of you who are employers, programmes like this have the added benefit of giving you access to a reliable, trained, and motivated workforce, and allowing you to know upfront who you’re employing, and that you have ongoing support from Corrections.
So far Corrections has entered into over 160 partnerships with employers to help offenders into all types of work – from construction services to forestry, logging, farming, and electronic and electrical equipment manufacturing.
This is just some of the work underway, and I’m keen – as I know Corrections is – for us to do even more together.
Now as many of you will have heard, this Government has set a long-term goal to reduce New Zealand’s prison population by 30 percent over the next 15 years.
One thing I have asked Corrections to look at to help us achieve this goal is what I call the transition points in our system – especially for those in prison.
What this means is that I want us to do everything possible to ensure people walk out our prison gates as better people, not broken people – and that means giving them the support they need both before and when they are released back into their communities.
We have a lot to look forward to.
Just last week we held our Criminal Justice Summit, which marked the start of a much-needed conversation about what needs to be done to build a justice system that better ensures the safety and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.
As we look to the months and years ahead, we need people, businesses and organisations and leaders like you to feed into the work we’re doing in the criminal justice space and to keep helping offenders – through training, education and employment – get on the right track.
Because you really are one of our most valuable assets in helping us safely reduce the prison population and in helping us keep our communities safe – and once again, thank you to those of you who are already doing just that.
“We can’t keep judging someone by the worst mistake they’ve ever made - or there would be a hell of a lot more of us inside.”
Martin Bosley’s statement still resonates with me. That night, I could feel the emotion of what he was saying – and I could see for myself that perceptions were changed in that room. I want everyone in this room to be a part of that.
So, for all the employers here today. When you get to that part of the job application form which asks if the candidate has ever been convicted of an offence, please don’t just write-them off if there’s a tick in that box. Ask a few more questions.
I hope today inspires you to give offenders a second chance so we can not only help them but improve the safety and wellbeing of their whanau and our communities too.
Thank you.
Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:55:12 +1200beehive.govt.nz105260Justice Summit: Discussion on improving our criminal justice systemhttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/justice-summit-discussion-improving-our-criminal-justice-system
Good morning everyone and thank you all for the warm welcome.
Yesterday was a busy and thought-provoking start to the summit, and I’m grateful that so many people have taken the time to share their views and experiences of our current criminal justice system.
Your voices – both now and in the months and years to come – will be pivotal in this public debate on what is working well and where we can and must do better.
Because we can do better.
As I mentioned yesterday, New Zealand now has one of the highest incarceration rates per capita in the world.
Over the past five years, the prison population has increased by 20 per cent.
This Government inherited a prison system that was under stress and heading even further in the wrong direction.
Yesterday we listened to the concerns and criticisms you had of the Department of Corrections
And if we are honest about wanting to change the system we need to be open to criticism.
But we also need to acknowledge people when they do a good job.
I want to acknowledge Corrections and their frontline staff who have worked tirelessly to safely and securely manage our growing prison population.
I know you don’t have the option of turning people away and that it is not always easy for staff – so thank you.
I have long argued that there is no good justification for our prison population being as high as it is.
It is why I wanted the job of Corrections Minister.
It was never going to be an easy gig, and nor should it.
It is not good enough for us politicians to simply sit back and claim that the solution to reducing crime and re-offending is to build more prisons to lock people up for longer.
Saying we should be tough on crime might make for a good soundbite, but in the end it doesn’t necessarily make the public any safer.
I fundamentally believe that we can not only halt, but reverse the growing prison population, and that we can do so in a way that keeps the public safe and genuinely changes people’s lives for the better.
That is why the Government has a long-term goal to reduce New Zealand’s prison population by 30 percent over the next 15 years.
It’s no small feat, and it will take all of those 15 years to reach that target.
Now I want to be clear – reducing the prison population does not mean releasing serious offenders to drive down numbers.
It means preventing crime, ensuring that the system treats people fairly, rehabilitating prisoners and transitioning them into the communities.
The Ministry of Justice, NZ Police and Corrections all need to play their part.
When I took up this job I asked Corrections to put on their thinking caps and come up with ways of working more effectively.
It is the first step in Corrections doing their bit to ensure our system is working for and with prisoners rather than just against them.
Corrections formed the High Impact Innovation Programme.
Thanks to the hard work they’ve put in through EM Bail Ready, Remand Triage and Parole Ready, and their continued work to:
Remove administrative barriers that prevent the release of those who are eligible for bail;
Reduce the likelihood of future offending by giving extra support to defendants on bail;
Speeding up court appearances to reduce delays for those remanded in custody;
And lastly, working with people in custody to better prepare them for success on parole.
We are already starting to see progress in our prison numbers.
In March this year our prison population peaked at around 10,800 people – as of Monday, 20 August, it is 10,237.
Before now, the prison population had been increasing ahead of forecast for a number of years.
We are now tracking below the forecast for the first time in a long time - by roughly a thousand people.
I have also asked Corrections to look really closely at what I call the transition points in our system.
The best opportunity we have to help people live crime-free, is to give them the support they need both before and as they are released back into their communities.
A critical part of that is housing, because we know that being homeless increases a person’s likelihood of committing crime.
A lack of safe, appropriate housing has made reintegration difficult. We know a lack of accommodation can be a barrier to people getting parole when they would otherwise be eligible.
That is why Budget 2018 sets aside $57.6 million over the next four years to provide housing and, more importantly, support services in areas like training, employment and health for over 300 people a year.
This is just one part of the work we have underway.
Corrections has developed a refreshed set of top ten priorities, based on evidence and best practice from around the world about what works when it comes to rehabilitation and transitional services.
You will have all received a copy of Corrections’ booklet outlining these priorities – I encourage you all to have a look, and there is also a pull-out section in there where you can fill in your feedback for us.
We’ve got some bins around the walls here where you can put your feedback form, so please do take the time to share your thoughts.
These priorities set out a clear roadmap for how we will provide more suitable alternatives to custody, and better programmes and support that will keep the public safe and improve the lives of people who offend, their whānau, and our wider community.
In 2018 and 19 this will mean:
Improved services, including education skills and primary health support, for people on remand.
The expansion of our core rehabilitation programmes to reach an extra 490 people per year.
More guided release activities, particularly for youth, to help people transition back into the community post-prison.
Additional kaupapa Māori support through Whare Oranga Ake and the development of two new rehabilitation centres to support women in the community, as an alternative to prison.
An extra 13 recruitment consultants to support people on community-based sentences into work.
More housing in the community, including seven places for people on bail, 31 places for people on home detention and 47 places for people on parole.
Six iwi navigators to help young people create meaningful connections with their whānau and communities.
That’s just the start.
And while we still have a lot of work to do and a long way to go, under this Government, and with your input, we have a real opportunity to make long-lasting change.
These may sound like small changes, but they are having a big impact. Not just on the numbers inside our prisons – they are also helping people through the system, rehabilitating them, getting them ready to re-join their families, supporting them when they are released – we are giving them the best chance to change their lives for good.
But I want to know what you think.
About our work programme, about our priorities, I want to hear your ideas.
Wed, 22 Aug 2018 16:45:44 +1200beehive.govt.nz105160Criminal Justice Summit: Plenary discussion on over-representation of Māori in the system http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/criminal-justice-summit-plenary-discussion-over-representation-m%C4%81ori-system
“I had never been hit or abused, until the day the men came to take me away. I still don’t even know why.”
That’s how Sam began to tell me his story at a marae in Whangarei.
Sam is now 60. The gang patches on his face still vivid.
His life has been spent in and out of prison. But now, he has had enough.
Enough of the violence. Enough of the P. Enough of ‘The Life.’
Sam was just 10 years-old when strangers arrived at his house in Mangere and took him away. His only crime was that he was born into a whānau of 16 children.
They took him away from his home, away from his family, and put him on a train to a boys’ home in Levin.
He had never known abuse or violence in his life until he walked through their doors.
Four years later - and Sam was put on another train and sent back to Auckland.
He told me that when he stepped off the train in Auckland he had changed so much as a person that it no longer felt like home. He felt like he no longer belonged there.
Within two weeks he had joined a gang – a new home, a new family he would remain with for the next 48 years.
When Sam told me his story - in fact when Māori across the country doing time tell me their stories - I can’t help but ask the question:
Why didn’t we do something? As a government, as Māori: Why didn’t we help?
Why are Māori up and down the country more likely to visit the pad than the marae?
And why are whole whānau turning to crime to feed their kids rather than turning to the government for support?
We took that 10 year-old boy – scared and confused – we took him, we threw him into the system and it spat out a broken young man with nowhere to turn but a life in the gang.
Why did we let that happen to Sam? And why do we still refuse to be bold and brave and do something to help people like Sam today?
We take pride in New Zealand as a country that leads the world in many ways.
Whether it’s our sporting achievements, our science and tech innovation, or our film industry. And we should be proud of these things.
But there is an ugly reality in this country. We are a world leader when it comes to putting people in prison.
We can’t seem to get enough of it.
We have the second highest incarceration rate in the world - and a level of imprisonment that is simply devastating our Māori whānau and communities.
You have all seen the statistics.
Roughly 16 per cent of our country’s population are Māori, yet we make up 51 per cent of all people in prison.
It is worse for our women and our young people.
Wāhine Māori make up around 60 per cent of the female prison population and the figure is similar for the number of young Māori offenders doing time on the inside.
It’s not just imprisonment rates.
Our people are over-represented at every stage of the criminal justice system:
In Oranga Tamariki care; in Youth Justice; criminal convictions; in dealings with the Police, and as victims of crime.
It’s not a new problem.
Successive governments have failed to overcome this challenge, let alone accept it as one that we can and must overcome.
This is personal for me.
I look around this room and I see Māori – professionals, public servants, whānau, leaders and iwi representatives – and I know you feel this too.
These are our people I'm talking about. Over half of all prisoners are Māori and about half of these are from my iwi of Ngāpuhi.
In fact, my tribe of Ngāpuhi are probably the most incarcerated tribe in the world per head of population.
I’ve had whānau in prison. I grew up in a street where a number of people living there went to prison. These guys were my mates: I used to build huts with them; swim in the floods with them; we would play in the paddocks together.
That’s not to excuse the offences these people have committed – but something has to be done to reduce the scale of this problem and the sheer waste of human potential.
So, this is very much a personal issue.
And as the Minister of Corrections: I want answers.
There is only so much you can learn from reports and international evidence, patterns, rates and projections.
I wanted to talk to prisoners.
So I have gone up and down the country, brought together groups of Māori inmates and asked them the simple question:
What do we need to do to help you so that when you leave prison you never come back?
And when I talk about ‘We’ – I mean the Government and Māori together.
I don’t know what I expected - but what I didn’t expect was the openness of each man and woman who spoke.
A woman at Wiri told me she had spent her life in and out of prison.
She had violent outbursts and the scars on her wrists told the story of those days when it all got too much.
Then she talked about an anger management course she had just finished.
She said it had changed her life: She can now communicate with her family, regulate her emotions and control her outbursts.
She then asked me: ‘Why couldn’t I have done this course when I was 15? Gee, my life would have been so different’.
I heard similar stories from the men I sat down with in the Special Treatment Unit at Rimutaka.
One of these men told me the rehabilitation programme they were on had taught him he actually had options when he became angry– options other than expressing that anger and frustration as violence.
Another said he had never even thought about or considered his inner feelings and emotions until he was on this programme – because the way he was raised, talking about feelings or showing vulnerability was not acceptable. It was unthinkable.
And all of them told me the same thing: They don’t want this life for their kids.
Then there’s the young Māori man who told me that when he was released from prison all he wanted to do was go home and see his Mum and Dad - but because he had a Non Association Order and his whole family were in a gang - he couldn’t go home.
He said: ‘I get that they take my freedom away because of the crimes I committed. But they took my whānau too’.
Men in prison tell me how much they benefit from Tikanga Māori courses - that it changes their lives when they learn haka, waiata and karakia.
But when that man goes home changed and wanting to live a new life - before he sits down to eat with his whānau he starts to say karakia and his wife and kids look at him like he’s a stranger.
Just last week, an articulate and polite young Māori man - only 18 years-old - had a tattoo scribbled across his face that read: ‘Trust No One’.
I asked him why he got that tattoo and he replied: ‘No one has done nothing for me, and everyone has let me down. My whānau, my friends and the system’.
Those disappointments and failures are now etched on his face as a constant reminder.
And why would he believe any different?
The system is broken.
It’s not working. And our whānau are hurting the most.
If we genuinely want to see fewer Māori caught in the system as both perpetrators and victims of crime, then we need to fundamentally change our approach to criminal justice.
This summit marks the start of this change.
It’s time as a government, it’s time as Māori that we work together to help our people.
In our communities, in our prisons and when they come out.
There had to be dozens of points in Sam’s life when someone could have stepped in.
And in Sam’s case, the one time we did step in, our intervention sent him down the path that ultimately turned him into a gang member – and not just him, but his whānau, and their whānau too.
In the end, we punished a child whose only crime was being born into a family of 16 children, then we sentenced him to a life of crime.
And we need to own that.
It’s our fault he spent nearly half a century in a gang.
If you think Sam is the exception to the rule – you are wrong.
There are 5000 Sams in our prisons. And they include his children, and his grandchildren.
We need to do something together to create a different future for Māori and for their whanau.
We need to break the cycle, connect them to their people, help them, and have hope for them.
And if we accept that there is a need for change – then we must all be part of that.
We - all of us - need to change the system. But we also need to change.
As a government we need to make sure the system helps and does not hurt Māori further.
We need to make sure those who have found their way into the system leave as better people - not broken people.
And when I visit our prisons full of our Māori men and women, I know that - if we are 51 per cent of the problem – then it must be up to us to lead the solution.
But we can only do it with the support of every person in this room.
As Māori we need to take care of our own, rather than closing our doors. We need to face up to and free ourselves from the violence that many of our people, our whānau struggle with.
Here’s where we can learn something from Sam:
When he heard the boys’ home in Levin had closed, he and his wife jumped in the car and drove back to the place where it all started.
He told me it was something he just had to do.
And it was when he was standing outside the gates that he finally broke down and offered his forgiveness.
He forgave the men who took him away; the boys’ home that broke his spirit; the government and the people who turned their backs on him.
He forgave us.
As a gang member you would expect Sam to be hard - to be strong. But one of the strongest things he’s ever done is to forgive us for the life we gave him, his kids, and his grandkids.
I’ll probably never know why Sam trusted me with his story. I was a stranger to him.
What I do know, is that I feel the weight of carrying his story, telling his story and sharing it with all of you.
And I know that we need to write a new story for our people.
So: What are we going to do? That is my question to all of you here today.
Together, how are we going to take up the challenge that others have been too timid, or too hardened or too short-sighted to accept?
What are we going to do to deserve Sam’s forgiveness?
[ENDS]
Tue, 21 Aug 2018 19:34:41 +1200beehive.govt.nz105120Waikeria decision based on 2017 projectionshttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/waikeria-decision-based-2017-projections
The decision on the rebuild of Waikeria Prison was made by Cabinet based on the 2017 Justice Sector Projections, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said today.
“Simon Bridges is wrong. Ministers have been working off the 2017 projections through all decisions made in relation to Waikeria Prison. These formed the basis of the paper I took to Cabinet in June,” Kelvin Davis said.
The 2017 Justice Sector Projections were publicly released last week.
“My comments this morning were intended to convey that I simply had not read the public version of the report on the projections, which was published last week. Of course I’ve seen dozens of official reports based on the information in the projections,” Kelvin Davis said.
Cabinet papers related to the Waikeria decision are due to be released within the next ten days.
Mon, 02 Jul 2018 13:12:18 +1200beehive.govt.nz104602Corrections Minister opens new learning centre for training and safetyhttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/corrections-minister-opens-new-learning-centre-training-and-safety
Corrections has invested $5.3 million in new National Learning Centre
Provides accommodation for over 150 staff
Multiple purpose-built learning spaces, conference facilities and lecture theatre
A new National Learning Centre opened this morning will ensure new recruits and existing staff receive the highest possible standard of training to keep them and the public safe, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says.
The centre, which has received a $5.3 million investment from Corrections, is based at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport and replaces the former Staff College at Rimutaka Prison.
“Nearly 1,000 new recruits underwent training last year, and the old college simply wasn’t fit for purpose. We now have a purpose-built learning facility with the capacity to meet our training needs,” Kelvin Davis said.
“The prison population has increased by 20 per cent over the last five years, and this has put stress on not only our facilities, but also our people.
“Recruitment is one way we can release the pressure on Corrections staff, and so it’s vital our recruits receive their training in a modern, first-class facility like this one.
“The centre’s modern learning environment is fully equipped to teach staff the skills and techniques they need to keep the public, themselves and offenders safe.”
61 Corrections officers and offender employment instructors also graduated today in the first graduation ceremony to be held at the centre.
“I’m proud of these women and men for wanting to make a difference in people’s lives and help offenders get on the right track so they don’t re-offend once they’re out of prison,” Kelvin Davis said.
“It was a privilege to present the Minister’s Excellence Award to Ceri Thomas from Auckland Prison for the leadership, professionalism and excellence he demonstrated throughout his 12 weeks of training.
“Today’s graduates are well-prepared to step into their new roles, and the National Learning Centre means future recruits and existing staff now have the facility they deserve,” Kelvin Davis said.
Thu, 28 Jun 2018 12:45:03 +1200beehive.govt.nz104538Waikeria Announcement Speech http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/waikeria-announcement-speech
Good Afternoon everyone, and thank you for being here today.
Now, I know I get criticised for not always being the smoothest in the House, or the best at media interviews.
Working on the hard issues; putting my head down and finding good solutions to big problems is what I do best.
I came into Parliament because I want to make a real difference for New Zealand on the hard issues – especially those that affect Maori.
And in my opinion there is no greater risk to the future of Maori, than the increasing incarceration of my people.
That’s why kaumatua from Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Raukawa are here today.
Because it is of utmost importance that Government work with whanau, hapu and iwi to face this challenge together.
I have taken my time on the decision concerning the previous Government’s plan to build at Waikeria.
After looking at all the options and taking a range of advice I am confident we have come to the right decision.
And that is important as we look at the short term and long term problems our Corrections system faces.
One of the first prisons I visited after becoming Minister was Waikeria.
And the first thing that I thought was: This place is horrific.
The yards are like animal cages. It was first designed 100 years ago and isn’t fit for purpose for either staff or prisoners.
Now, I know prisons shouldn’t be resorts.
Offenders must face consequences - and the loss of freedom is punishment for the crimes people commit.
But in saying that, we shouldn’t be sending people to prison to become better criminals rather than better people.
We all know the state that our prison system is in.
We have 10,600 people inside a network designed to house 9,254.
That is too many people.
Too many people already inside our prisons cells, and far too many people looking to join them.
And most importantly, too many victims.
We inherited a network that was already under stress and heading even further in the wrong direction.
We as a country have a real problem.
And we need to be real about the solution.
There is no silver bullet, no single tweak we can make to legislation that is going to address the problem overnight.
The solutions we are putting in place will be tough – but it is a good start.
Like I said at the beginning, I didn’t come into this role to cover up the cracks with band aids.
I wasn’t going to double-down on a broken system.
My father always told me: Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but it’s always right.
Decades of rushed policy and reactive decisions have gotten us to this point today.
First off – we need to find a way to deal with the numbers of people currently coming through the prison gates.
Let’s be clear, even if the previous Government had made a decision to build their American-style mega prison before they left office, we would be facing the same capacity crisis we are in today.
It would have changed nothing.
We need to add beds to the system to relieve some of the immediate capacity pressures over the next 12-18 months.
That’s why we have already approved the construction of 976 rapid builds.
These are not meant to be permanent structures – but are a necessary measure to relieve immediate pressures.
By the second quarter of next year we will be adding:
244 rapid build beds to Rolleston Prison
122 to Tongariro Prison
Coming online in the fourth quarter of 2019 will be:
244 at Rimutaka Prison
122 at Christchurch Womens’ Prison, and;
244 at Christchurch Mens’ prison
From the outset I wanted Corrections to look at steps they could take to ensure the current system is operating more effectively.
They have identified and are working to resolve the following four issues:
Firstly, removing administrative barriers that prevent the release of those who are eligible for bail.
Secondly, reducing the likelihood of future offending by giving extra support to defendants on bail.
Thirdly, speeding up court appearances to reduce delays for those remanded in custody.
Lastly, replicating the success of Alcohol and Drug Courts.
These programmes are on track to save a further 150 beds, or over 54,000 bed nights per year, freeing up approximately $15 million dollars in costs.
We are also looking at housing.
Being homeless increases an offender’s likelihood of committing crime.
A lack of appropriate housing has made re-integration difficult.
There are hundreds of people currently in prison who are ready to be released but for the fact there is no suitable housing for them to be released to.
That’s why Budget 2018 sets aside $57.6 million over the next four years to provide housing and importantly support services for over 300 people a year, tailored to meet individual needs.
Participants will be supported into training and employment, and will be able to access health services, develop life skills, address the causes of their offending, and build relationships alongside their whānau and communities.
We are doing a lot of work. Good work. And I am proud of the progress we are making to relieve immediate pressures.
Now let’s look at the long term.
In 2021 the prison population is projected to have increased by a further 1,700.
To be clear: These projections take into account the possible impact of increased Police numbers.
This Government has decided that Corrections, together with the wider justice sector, will address these capacity issues.
Our role in addressing these issues, is to add an extra 1,000 beds to the prison network.
The easy answer would have been to build a mega prison.
It’s just not the right thing to do.
And I refuse to continue a failed system and then scale it up even more.
The problem isn’t just that we don’t have enough prison beds – it’s that too many people are entering into our justice system and walking through our prison gates in the first place.
A mega prison would have been a sign we had given up - before we had even attempted to fix the real problem.
Only yesterday, a report from the Chief Science Advisor found that a major solution to New Zealand’s rising prison population is intervening in the lives of very young children, and stopping the “school to prison pipeline”.
It found that 87 percent of young offenders had been referred to Oranga Tamariki when they were children, and more than half had a mental illness.
Intervening early could prevent these children entering prison.
What we announce here today is a significant change in direction for prisons in New Zealand.
Today I am announcing that we will build a world-leading 500 bed facility here at Waikeria alongside a 100 bed mental health unit that is the first of its kind in New Zealand.
We know smaller prisons are more effective in providing real rehabilitation, and this facility will be one of the smallest prisons in New Zealand.
From the outset it was blindingly obvious that there is a massive problem with mental health issues in our prisons.
What I can’t understand is why no government took serious action to address this.
Until now.
Until we address the underlying issues, like mental health, we will always struggle to address re-offending.
In the room today I want to thank Cherryl Robertson, Health Centre Manager, and her dedicated team of Nurses.
They are the ones who stare the mental health problems in the face every day. And I know they will appreciate how important today’s announcement is.
The plans for Waikeria strike the right balance between showing hardened criminals the consequences of their actions, and, providing a new facility that can work to rehabilitate prisoners and reduce our appalling rate of re-offending.
I will be doing further work on a strategy that will ensure we carry this new direction across the entire prison network.
The next phase will be to add 400 new beds across the network.
And we want those facilities to be small in scale, closer to communities and better linked to local work programmes.
I want to take some time to respond to the Leader of the Opposition’s remarks suggesting that we have to build an American styled mega prison to keep the public safe.
He is wrong. Calling for a mega prison to be built is just lazy politics.
American-style mega prisons are crime breeding factories.
They swallow up young offenders, and spit out harden criminals, sometimes a fully patched gang member.
They do not keep communities safe.
We have chosen to build a smaller prison.
Because smaller prisons work.
International evidence shows the benefits of small prisons are:
they can be built locally, allowing prisoners to be closer to their families
staff morale is typically higher in small facilities, as management is more visible and people are more likely to know each other
Most importantly, they are safer, providing a better ability to monitor prisoner wellbeing.
Evidence suggests that large prisons result in poor social environments and prisoner outcomes because they can be impersonal and focus on procedure rather than people.
I want to finish my address by speaking directly to our Corrections officers.
Thank you.
You are on the frontline, keeping New Zealand safe.
You are guardians; you are teachers; you are mentors - and Corrections officers.
And I know you are under pressure.
But I want to assure you. We have a plan. It starts today.
You are vital to its success; our most valuable asset in achieving our Government’s goal of reducing the prison population by 30% over the next 15 years.
Today, we have drawn a line under years of failed prison policy in New Zealand.
I ask you to join me, and this Government, on a new journey towards better prisons that make our communities safer.
Thank you.
Wed, 13 Jun 2018 11:49:55 +1200beehive.govt.nz104394No American-style mega prison, Government delivers new thinkinghttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/no-american-style-mega-prison-government-delivers-new-thinking
500 bed high security prison to be constructed at Waikeria
First-of-its-kind 100 bed mental health facility
Completion due by early 2022
The Government will build a world-leading high security replacement prison at Waikeria, setting a new direction for Corrections in New Zealand while ditching the American-style mega prison planned by the previous National Government, Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis announced today.
The prison will include a first-of-its-kind in New Zealand mental health facility to address the high rate of mental health issues prevalent in the prison population.
“Today sets a new direction for prisons in New Zealand, putting public safety first while delivering real rehabilitation and mental health support to reduce reoffending,” said Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis at the site of the new prison at Waikeria.
The new high-security prison, to be delivered by early 2022, will accommodate 500 prisoners, with the ability to provide mental health treatment for a further 100 offenders.
“New Zealand is safer when the most violent offenders are locked away, but prison is also a place where offenders should be rehabilitated, not trained by other prisoners to become more hardened criminals.
“This strikes the right balance between showing hardened criminals the consequences of their actions, and providing a new facility that can work to rehabilitate prisoners and reduce our appalling rate of re-offending.
“The new mental health facility will service urgent need within our prison system. 62 per cent of prisoners have been diagnosed with a mental health or substance abuse disorder in the last twelve months. We currently do very little to help turn these people’s lives around.
“National’s plan to build a mega prison for up to 2,000 prisoners at Waikeria was a clear sign it had given up. They are expensive and ineffective, becoming super-sized factories that just turn low level criminals into hardened criminals.
“This will be one of New Zealand’s smallest prisons. We know smaller prisons make rehabilitation more likely, are closer to communities and link better to local work programmes.
“Prisons shouldn’t be resorts and offenders must face consequences, but we can’t expect prisoners to turn their lives around and walk out the doors ready to be better people if we lock them away in a breeding ground for crime.
“Today’s decision draws a line under New Zealand’s failed prison policy and sets us on a new path towards better prisons, that make our communities safer,” said Kelvin Davis.
Wed, 13 Jun 2018 10:58:56 +1200beehive.govt.nz104392Getting ex-offenders into jobshttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/getting-ex-offenders-jobs
Schemes to help young ex-offenders get driver’s licences and help inmates develop Mānuka and Kānuka products will be supported by the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced in Kerikeri today.
“The New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform will be able to expand its driver’s licence programme in targeted regions, including Northland, supported by $7.5 million from the PGF,” said Shane Jones.
“The future flow-on effects from the Howard League investment are huge. Many entry level jobs require a driver’s licence so getting one is essential to getting employment.
“The regions will have safer roads with fewer unlicensed drivers, a supply of young work-ready people, higher levels of employment and therefore more local spending. This programme also will help meet labour shortages in forestry, kiwifruit and pipfruit industries, construction and transport,” said Shane Jones.
“The Northland Region Corrections Facility and the Ngāti Rangi Ahu Whenua Trust will be funded by up to $70,000 from PGF and $23,000 from the Department of Corrections to undertake a feasibility study of the potential for producing Mānuka and Kānuka oil and other products,” said Kelvin Davis.
“Establishing an oil distillery, likely to be in Kaikohe, will provide training and long-term employment opportunities for the local community and inmates at the Northland Region Corrections Facility. I’m confident this will help reduce reoffending over time.
“This Government is pleased to support both projects as they have the potential to create real social and economic benefits in the local community while the oil project will also contribute to the Government’s One Billion Trees planting programme,” said Kelvin Davis.
Notes to editors:
The Howard League for Penal Reform is a registered charity that aims to reduce re-offending by educating prisoners and providing driver’s licence programmes for offenders.
The Howard League has successfully run the drivers licence programme in Hawke’s Bay, West Auckland and Whangarei. With this funding they can expand to the Far North, Whakatane, Opotiki, Hastings/Napier, Central Hawke’s Bay and West Coast.
Fri, 01 Jun 2018 14:30:41 +1200beehive.govt.nz104242Minister welcomes 40 new Corrections Officers to the frontlinehttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-welcomes-40-new-corrections-officers-frontline
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has today welcomed 40 new Corrections Officers to the frontline.
The recruits, who graduated at a ceremony in Upper Hutt this morning, come from a range of previous professions and include a former primary school teacher, youth worker, logging operator and lifeguard team leader.
“It is great to see so many people from different backgrounds wanting to be positive role models in prisoners’ lives to help steer them away from a life of crime,” Kelvin Davis said.
“Corrections staff do an incredible job keeping the public safe by supporting offenders to complete their rehabilitation, education and employment programmes. They are critical in helping break the cycle of re-offending and reducing the harm crime has on our whanau and wider communities.”
Stephanie Bixley from Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison was presented with the Minister’s Excellence Award for the leadership, professionalism and overall excellence she displayed during the 12 weeks of training.
Born and bred in Hastings, Stephanie has a background in early childhood education and hospitality. She worked as a chef and café and bistro manager prior to joining Corrections.
“Stephanie has a real passion for wanting to give people the tools and support they need to change their lives for the better. These are exactly the sort of people we want and need on the frontline, so it is fantastic she has chosen to join Corrections,” Kelvin Davis said.
“She has been described as someone who is calm and confident and able to take challenges in her stride. Like all of today’s graduates, Stephanie will be a big asset to Corrections. I wish all our graduates the best as they begin their new careers.”
The new graduates will work at Mt Eden, Auckland Region Women’s, Spring Hill and Otago Corrections facilities, and Auckland, Tongariro, Hawke’s Bay Regional, Rimutaka, Arohota, Christchurch Women’s and Christchurch Men’s prisons.
Thu, 31 May 2018 11:49:29 +1200beehive.govt.nz104196New focus on re-integration and community management to reduce re-offendinghttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-focus-re-integration-and-community-management-reduce-re-offending
Creating a more efficient justice system, investing in community housing, and additional funding to safely manage offenders on community-based sentences are important first steps in reducing New Zealand’s prison population, says Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis.
“The Coalition Government is committed to reducing re-offending as we deal with the prison muster, which has increased significantly over the last nine years,” says Kelvin Davis.
“Our goal is to reduce New Zealand’s prison population by 30 per cent over the next 15 years. To achieve this, we need to ensure there are safe and effective alternatives to prison, while also reducing crime and re-offending.
“The people who need to be in prison will be in prison. But we will also make sure support is in place to help prevent re-offending, and that offenders who meet the criteria for staying in the community are able to do so safely.
“A lack of appropriate housing, due to the housing crisis, has made re-integration increasingly difficult.
“Budget 2018 sets aside $57.6 million over the next four years to provide housing and support services for over 300 people a year, tailored to meet individual needs.
“This initiative will be delivered in partnership by Corrections and Housing New Zealand. As investments in public housing make more properties available, other providers funded by Corrections can deliver services alongside them.
“Participants will be supported into training and employment, and will be able to access health services, develop life skills, address the causes of their offending, and build relationships with their whānau and communities.
“We will always make sure the public is safe. This is about making sure the system is working effectively within the current law,” says Kelvin Davis.
Budget 2018 provides an additional $127.9 million for other initiatives to manage community-based sentences. This includes:
$82.7 million for probation and community services, including 270 more probation officers by 2022
$8.6 million to bring the total number of defendants on electronically monitored bail to 1,000
$6.7 million to maintain and expand residential alcohol treatment services.
Budget 2018 also includes $198.4 million of new capital expenditure to accommodate an additional 600 prisoner places in rapid-build modular units in prisons by the end of 2019. We are also committing $316.1 million over four years for the operating costs of the rising prison population.
“Government spending on prisons has been described as a moral and fiscal failure. Budget 2018 marks the start of this Government’s plans to reform New Zealand’s Corrections landscape,” says Kelvin Davis.
Note to editors:
Initiatives being developed to improve efficiency in the justice system include:
enabling bail at the earliest opportunity by ensuring administrative issues are not preventing or delaying those who are eligible being released on bail
providing additional support for defendants on bail to increase their compliance with conditions and reduce the likelihood of future offending
establishing a clear process for Police Prosecutions and court staff to speed up the scheduling of court appearances and reduce court delays for those remanded in custody
considering how to replicate the success of Alcohol and Drug Courts in rehabilitating offenders in other courts.
The rapid prison builds funded through Budget 2018 are in addition to builds already planned or under way at a number of prisons by the end of 2019.
The Government is yet to make a decision about the Waikeria prison proposal. The contingency created in Budget 2017 remains available.Thu, 17 May 2018 12:34:00 +1200beehive.govt.nz103964Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award helping young offenders gain new skillshttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/duke-edinburgh%E2%80%99s-hillary-award-helping-young-offenders-gain-new-skills
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has congratulated 11 young offenders for achieving The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award - including the first prisoner in New Zealand to ever achieve the Gold Award.
At the ceremony in Christchurch Men’s Prison Youth Unit today, Mr Davis said completing the Award was a big achievement for the young men.
“The Award has helped them step out of their comfort zones and taught them new skills, including leadership, goal-setting and decision-making. These skills and their proven motivation to succeed will help them make the right choices once they are released back into the community.
“A lot of young people end up in prison because they haven’t had the best role models, environment or opportunities growing up. Helping them gain the skills they need to get into further training, education or work reduces their likelihood of re-offending which means our communities are safer.
“These young offenders have also raised $400 for Te Whare Hauora (formerly Otautahi Women's Refuge) by running a sponsored marathon inside the prison. This was a great way for them to complete the physical recreation requirement for the Award while also give something back to the local community.”
In addition to physical recreation, participants also complete volunteering, skills development and adventure activities, allowing them to reach bronze, silver or gold levels of the Award.
One young man received a Gold Award at the ceremony, making him the first prisoner in New Zealand to achieve The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award at this level while in prison.
Two young men were awarded Gold Adventurous Journey Sectional Certificates for part completion of the Gold Award, while two others received Silver Awards and six received the Bronze Award.
“Prison presents some unique challenges for completing some of the activities, such as camping out overnight, but the staff do a great job making sure the young people can carry out the activities safely and securely,” Mr Davis said.
Corrections has worked with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award to run the programme for young offenders at Christchurch Men’s Prison, Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison and Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility since 2016.
Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:17:03 +1200beehive.govt.nz103514Corrections Amendment Bill passes first readinghttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/corrections-amendment-bill-passes-first-reading
A Bill to further ensure prison security and the safe and fair management of prisoners has passed its first reading in Parliament today.
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says while the legislation governing the corrections system is working well, the Corrections Amendment Bill makes a number of improvements.
“The Bill will provide further assurance that there is a comprehensive framework for managing prisoners who are at risk of self-harm, and that the assessment, placement and management of these prisoners is thorough, responsive and keeps them, staff and other prisoners safe.
“A 2016 Corrections study found that 91 per cent of prisoners had been diagnosed with a mental health or substance use disorder at some time in their lives. This is why it is critical we continue to support prisoners who are at-risk or have mental health issues.
“The new framework will build on the $25 million Corrections is investing to pilot new mental health services and develop a new national model of care for at-risk prisoners.
“This will ensure prisoners vulnerable to self-harm receive the therapeutic and individualised support they need to improve their wellbeing and engage in activities that help prevent re-offending.”
The Corrections Amendment Bill will amend and update the Corrections Act 2004 and proposes a number other changes. These include:
Amending the definition of a drug to align with the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 so prisoners can be tested for a wider range of drugs, including synthetic cannabis, and be charged with a disciplinary offence in the event of a positive test.
Allowing for the use of imaging technology like body scanners to more effectively detect contraband, including drugs and weapons, and reduce reliance on rub-down or strip searches.
Making it a disciplinary offence for a prisoner to attempt to have contact with someone that would breach a court order or direction.
Making it a disciplinary offence for a prisoner to tattoo another prisoner or consent to receive a tattoo from another prisoner, or tattoo themselves.
“The changes will also better safeguard the interests of children with a mother in prison. Under the current legislation any decision made about the placement of a baby with its mother in prison is final. The Bill will introduce a review process and grant mothers a statutory right to appeal placement decisions, but will always put the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children first,” Mr Davis says.
“It’s important our legislation allows Corrections to safely, securely and effectively manage some of our country’s most complex people, while also supporting prisoners to reintegrate back into our communities on release.”
The Bill has been referred to the Justice Select Committee.
Thu, 29 Mar 2018 17:54:34 +1300beehive.govt.nz103316Minister congratulates staff and prisoners at Northland prisonhttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-congratulates-staff-and-prisoners-northland-prison
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis today presented Long Service Awards to staff and congratulated prisoners who have completed trades training at Northland Region Corrections Facility.
“Education, employment and rehabilitation are crucial to reducing re-offending and our prison population but it can’t be done without the dedication of Corrections’ staff,” Mr Davis says.
“Staff work in an environment which requires them to be adaptable, resilient, and the daily decisions they are required to make can have a profound impact on how successful we are in reducing a prisoners’ likelihood of reoffending.
“It was my pleasure to award Long Service Awards to nine Corrections officers and other staff at Northland Region Corrections Facility. I am grateful for their ongoing work to help prisoners turn their lives around.
“It’s a difficult job but the fact that today’s recipients have served seven or more years is a testament to their commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
While at the prison, Mr Davis also congratulated seven prisoners for completing the 17-week New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills Painting, Level 3 programme run by Northtec.
“This qualification gives them a much better chance of finding work in the construction industry once they’ve served their sentence,” Mr Davis says.
“It’s a big foot in the door. They can start out as a labourer, brush-hand or apprentice, and then go on to work as a painter with some further training and experience.
“The graduates should be proud of what they’ve achieved and I have urged them to make sure they put their new skills to good use once they’re outside the wire. That’s the only way they can build a better life for themselves and their whanau.
“The safety of our community is paramount and the best way to ensure this is by rehabilitating prisoners and removing barriers to them settling back in. This programme is just one of the ways we’re making this happen.”
Northland Region Corrections Facility has worked with NorthTec for over eight years, providing a range of programmes at the prison, including carpentry, forestry and horticulture.
Fri, 26 Jan 2018 12:51:38 +1300beehive.govt.nz102579Minister congratulates new Corrections graduateshttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-congratulates-new-corrections-graduates
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has congratulated 20 new Corrections officers and offender employment instructors who graduated at a ceremony in Upper Hutt today.
“This is the first graduation I have attended as Minister and I was impressed to see Corrections attract so many high calibre women and men from all walks of life,” Mr Davis says.
“Corrections frontline staff work face-to-face with offenders every day. It’s not always an easy job, and I’m grateful for the work they do in motivating prisoners to change their lives so we can reduce re-offending and keep our communities safe.”
Patricia Parkin from Christchurch Women’s Prison was presented with the Minister’s Excellence Award and Recognition Pin, acknowledging her leadership, professionalism and outstanding contribution throughout the 12 week training programme.
Patricia moved to New Zealand in 2009 and has spent a number of years working as a care assistant and a facilitator for youth group, Q-Topia.
“Patricia’s passion for helping people will serve her well in her new role and she will no doubt find this new career path incredibly rewarding,” Mr Davis says.
“This was also the first time a Recognition Pin has been presented to the award recipient. I hope the pin, with its silver and blue hei matau (fish hook) design, becomes a source of pride, strength and support for Patricia and future recipients.”
The new graduates will work at Mt Eden, Auckland Region Women’s, Spring Hill and Otago corrections facilities, and Waikeria, Tongariro and Christchurch Men’s and Women’s prisons.
Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:52:45 +1300beehive.govt.nz10237520 years of kaupapa Maori units a major milestone http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/20-years-kaupapa-maori-units-major-milestone
The 20 year anniversary of Maori Focus Units at prisons marks a major milestone in the use of kaupapa Maori values to help reduce re-offending, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says.
Twenty years ago today New Zealand’s first Maori Focus Unit opened at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison. Four more units have since opened at Rimutaka, Waikeria, Whanganui and Tongariro prisons.
The units, and the kaupapa Māori rehabilitation programme delivered within them, are collectively known as Te Tirohanga.
“The first unit marked the start of a truly kaupapa Maori approach to rehabilitating prisoners,” Mr Davis says.
“Over 9,300 men have been through Te Tirohanga in the past 20 years, which is a massive achievement for those men, as well as the staff, whanau, kaumātua and iwi involved.
“Introducing something like this would have been a hard sell 20 years ago, and I know people like Sir Pita Sharples spent many years advocating for kaupapa Māori at prisons. Today’s milestone is certainly something to celebrate.”
Te Tirohanga provides a culturally supportive environment with interdisciplinary teams and a whanau centric approach to help prisoners address their offending.
The programme includes a range of tikanga-based courses and activities and regular involvement of local iwi groups.
“Te Tirohanga helps prisoners learn better attitudes and behaviours, strengthens their cultural identity, and motivates them to take up further treatment, education or training opportunities while in prison,” Mr Davis says.
“It gives them skills to help stay on track once they’re back in the community, which is good for them and their whanau and critical to keeping our communities safe.”
Fri, 08 Dec 2017 12:00:00 +1300beehive.govt.nz102277Corrections Minister welcomes Ombudsman’s reports http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/corrections-minister-welcomes-ombudsman%E2%80%99s-reports
Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis has welcomed the Ombudman’s inspection reports into prisons.
This afternoon the Ombudsman has released a report into an inspection of Christchurch Men’s Prison and three follow up reports into Manawatu, Rolleston and Arohata Prisons.
“It’s important that we have a watchdog able to make unannounced inspections of our prisons and take an independent view. As Corrections Minister, I welcome the Ombudsman’s findings,“ Mr Davis says.
“If we want to reduce the prison population, we can’t just lock people up – the focus has to be on rehabilitation. For this to be successful we must have the right culture in our prisons and the facilities have to be up to scratch.”
Mr Davis says Corrections was making progress on addressing issues raised by the Ombudsman, including investing in new facilities at Manawatu, Rolleston and Christchurch Men’s Prisons; investing $11.6 million to develop a new national model of care for At Risk prisoners, and working to better balance prisoner privacy and safety.
“I am concerned about the review of Christchurch Men’s Prison, which was unacceptable,” Mr Davis says.
“Prisoners need feel safe so they can concentrate on rehabilitation and treatment. That’s one way of reducing reoffending. There has been a change in the management team at the prison and I expect the culture to change.
“I’ve made it clear to Corrections that I expect our prisons to be a place where people serve their time, receive the rehabilitation they require and reintegrate back into communities, not to return.”
Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:45:01 +1300beehive.govt.nz102217